Mayberry Campground

I heard about this campground on the way north during my Blue Ridge Parkway touras a great place to stay to explore Mount Airy, just a few miles away. I knew I didn’t want to miss visiting the real-life town that was basis for the idealistic town of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. I’m an Andy, Opie & Barney fan from way back!

But we just didn’t have time at that point because Mom plane reservations at the end of the month we had allotted on the Parkway and the schedule was already pretty packed. But when I got back here on the southbound return in October 2007, I checked it out. It turned out they hadn’t been open for long, so I was happy to be among the first guests.

Here’s the friendly owner, Benny, mowing my yard. It was easy to get caught up in his excitement about opening his campground – a longtime dream as a longtime lover of camping. The house in the background was his Grandma Maude’s and is kept in pristine condition as when she departed this earth. No one lives there now, and is only used for family reunions. The other stocked pond is to its left. See below for more info on the house and go to next page for a tour inside.

Benny turned out to be a real blessing to me when a rogue wind gust caught my awning and blew half of it over the roof. He wasn’t onsite at the time, but when he was called he came right over and got the arm down and back into place so it could be closed up. Turns out one of the pins on the arm had broken off, but thank God it looks like it will be an easy fix – could have been a lot worse and I sure appreciated his help!

Here’s the view from my front window from Site #5. A brand spanking new campground! This is one of the two catch and release fishing ponds with back-in sites being prepared on its banks. That road in the distance is I-74 – there’s some road noise from it, but not really bad, I guess because it’s muffled some by the trees.

I always enjoyed my conversations with Benny. It was nice to see an owner who is very receptive to ideas from campers – that’s how he came up with the idea of having a dog play area that will be fenced in with benches for the owners to watch their doggies play off leash.

He also shared a little of the history of the park. The family homestead of 250 acres (50 acres now campground) has been rolling farmland since the late 1800’s, so was already cleared of trees. But Benny is planning on adding many trees and keeping the grass green and lush year round by seeding different varieties of grass for the seasons.

Other improvements planned for include wi-fi, cable TV, and pool with Jacuzzi. Now you’re talking my language! I hardly ever use a campground’s pool, but I really love the idea of having a Jacuzzi as that’s the one thing I really miss having by living in a motorhome – a nice long soak in a hot tub.

Benny said he designed the layout to provide two distinct kinds of accommodations – the all pull-though hilltop sites with the easiest access are more for the quickie overnight visitors and the sites are a bit closer together. The remaining sites are more destination oriented with more space between sites. I thought it was also smart (and considerate) planning to have two dump pipes at each site, one toward the back and the other toward the front.

Malia’s 2 cents: I really enjoyed being one of the first guests at this brand new campground – it’s exciting to hear of all the great plans and I look forward to a future return visit to see the changes. Benny’s enthusiasm is genuine and contagious. Lynn, the office manager, is incredibly helpful and friendly. I don’t think you’ll regret a stay here and meeting these fine folks. Be sure to tell them Malia sends her best regards!

Besides Mount Airy, you’re also close to Pilot Mountain State Park and several vineyards are in the area for touring and wine tasting.

4 Years Later…

November 2011: I was happy to see this convenient to my return route from the summer I spent in Michigan. I was curious to see what changes had taken place and it was great to see Benny and Lynn again!

It was obvious Benny had been hard at work. Look at how much Andy Taylor Street has grown!

And here’s little Opie Taylor Street.

The Winston-Salem Good Sam Chapter was having a rally that weekend and it was fun meeting a bunch of them. They told me how this was a great campground for rallies and get togethers and also appreciated the good amount of space between those long pull-through sites.

They liked the spacious common grounds and covered picnic areas.

The views are still good and the changing colored trees still fascinate me.

And I loved this scene from a little playground area with brilliant trees matching the old Coca-Cola swing.

Benny showed me even more plans for expansion and improvements for this hilltop area. It will be fun to watch this park grow and change with all the planned amenities Benny has going on. I don’t know when, but I will return!